Fort Wayne FC

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Fort Wayne FC
Fort Wayne FC logo.svg
Full nameFort Wayne Football Club
FoundedSeptember 9, 2019; 2 years ago (2019-09-09)
StadiumShields Field
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Capacity3,200
Owners
List
  • DaMarcus Beasley Mark Music
    John Bellio
    Drew Little
    Erik Magner
    Tom Lapsley
    Michael Khorshid
Head Coach, Sporting DirectorMike Avery
LeagueUSL League Two
20218th, Great Lakes Division
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website
Away colors

Fort Wayne Football Club is a pre-professional soccer club in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. The club currently competes in the Valley Division of the USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. Fort Wayne FC plays at Shields Field Stadium at Bishop Dwenger High School which serves as the club's home venue. It has a capacity of 3,200 spectators.[1][2]

History[]

Fort Wayne FC was founded by a group of local business people who wanted to provide a stepping stone for young and talented soccer players. In 2019, the club applied to and joined the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as an expansion team for the 2020 season.[3] In a public announcement on September 9, 2019, City of Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry introduced the club to the city and Fort Wayne FC's president Dr. Erik Magner introduced Greg Mauch as the club's general manager.[4][5][6] On December 19, 2019, the club announced Nick Potter and Russ Lawson as the club's assistant coaches.[7][8]

On January 29, 2020, the club introduced Jeff Richey as the goalkeeper coach.[9] Two weeks later, FWFC announced Mike Avery as the club's head coach.[10][11][12]

On March 26, 2020, the NPSL announced the cancellation of the 2020 summer session due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13][14][15]

On October 28, 2020, USL League Two announced its addition of Fort Wayne FC into their league for the 2021 and 2022 season. It was also announced that Fort Wayne native and former United States men's national soccer team and Major League Soccer (MLS) player DaMarcus Beasley would be a co-owner of the club. [16][17][18] The club plans to join USL League One by 2023.[19][18]

On May 9th, 2021, the club played their first-ever match, a 3-0 loss to Oakland County FC.

On May 23rd, 2021, the club played their first-ever home match in a 2-1 loss to Toledo Villa FC, where the club's first goal was scored by forward Noe Garcia in front of a crowd of over 2,700.[20]

On May 23rd, 2021, the club won their first-ever match, a 1-0 friendly win over Erie Commodores FC, the goal being scored by forward Max Amoako.

On June 11th, 2021, the club won their first USL League Two match, and first ever away match with a 3-1 win over Toledo Villa FC, with goals being scored by Pep Casas, Joe Kouadio and Breno Boccoli.[21]

On June 25th, 2021, the Club hosted its first international-friendly match, welcoming the Chivas Guadalajara's U19 Reservas.

On August 31, 2021, the Club announced that Head Coach Mike Avery signed a contract extension for 2022 while also being appointed as Sporting Director for the club. Avery reports directly to and works alongside part-owner, DaMarcus Beasley.

On September 22, 2021, the Club announced that Laurie Perolio-Bullinger would be leading Club Operations with DaMarcus Beasley leading Football Operations.

Colors and badge[]

Fort Wayne FC's home kit is white, away kit is blue, and the goalkeeper's kit is red. The three-wave lines on the club's uniform jersey sleeves, shorts and socks represent the three rivers, St. Mary's River, St. Joseph River and Maumee River, of Fort Wayne.[22] Symbols of the flag of Indiana, the flaming torch and its stars, can be found in front of the Fort Wayne FC uniform jersey.[23]

The club's motto is, "protect the fort!"[24] reflecting the Fort Wayne fort built in 1794 under the orders of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.[25]

Year-by-year[]

Year Division League Regular Season (W–L–T) Playoffs Open Cup
2021 4 USL2 8th, Great Lakes (1–8–5) Did not qualify Ineligible

Players and staff[]

Roster[]

As of June 16, 2021.[26]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player Nation
34 Goalkeeper Saed Anabtawi United States United States
1 Goalkeeper Joe Bowles England England
Goalkeeper Cuba Grant Canada Canada
12 Goalkeeper Gabe Greenfield Brazil Brazil
23 Goalkeeper Cody Schweitzer United States United States
19 Defender Keagan Angevin France France
14 Defender Gary Boughton United States United States
26 Defender Tyler Gainer United States United States
6 Defender Will Harris England England
42 Defender Joel Harvey United States United States
13 Defender Kyle Hoagland United States United States
39 Defender Enrique Horna Panama Panama
Defender Ahmed Longmire United States United States
41 Defender Luke Morrell United States United States
28 Defender Jakub Olczyk Poland Poland
48 Defender Patrick Olczyk Poland Poland
22 Defender Dylan Shockey United States United States
5 Defender Reid Sproat United States United States
10 Midfielder Pep Casas de Abadal Spain Spain
32 Midfielder Breno Boccoli de Oliveira Brazil Brazil
36 Midfielder Luka Glusevic Canada Canada
Midfielder Nemanja Gvdozic United States United States
29 Midfielder Kazuki Hashimoto Japan Japan
2 Midfielder Auston Kranick United States United States
18 Midfielder Bawi Phutin United States United States
21 Midfielder José Rodríguez United States United States
4 Midfielder Ethan Stoneman United States United States
37 Midfielder Michael Teller United States United States
11 Midfielder Zach Tom United States United States
49 Midfielder TJ White England England
9 Forward Max Amoako Ghana Ghana
30 Forward Grayson Doody United States United States
3 Forward Noe Garcia Spain Spain
7 Forward Vitor Gomes Brazil Brazil
8 Forward Luke Jones England England
15 Forward Joe Kouadio England England
43 Forward Logan Lee United States United States
16 Forward Uriel Macias United States United States
17 Forward Seth Mahlmeister United States United States
33 Forward Samuel Michaels United States United States
36 Forward Duarte Rebelo Portugal Portugal

Front office and technical staff[]

  • United States , Operations Director
  • United States DaMarcus Beasley, Football Operations Director
  • United States Mike Avery, head coach, scouting director

References[]

  1. ^ Groth, Zach (March 28, 2019). "Bishop Dwenger making progress on new stadium". WPTA21. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  2. ^ Tran, Louie (August 31, 2019). "Bishop Dwenger students, parents check out new football stadium for first time". Fort Wayne's NBC. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "Fort Wayne FC Joins the NPSL for the 2020 Season". National Premier Soccer League. September 9, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  4. ^ "MAYOR HENRY WELCOMES FORT WAYNE FC; ANNOUNCES NEW SOCCER EXPANSION FOR 2020 SEASON - City of Fort Wayne". www.cityoffortwayne.org. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  5. ^ "Fort Wayne adds pro soccer team". WANE. September 9, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Burbrink, Jacob (September 9, 2019). "Professional soccer team coming to Fort Wayne". WPTA21. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  7. ^ "Fort Wayne FC Welcomes Nick Potter and Russ Lawson as Assistant Coaches". Fort Wayne FC. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "Fort Wayne FC welcomes new assistant coaches | News Break". News Break Fort Wayne, IN. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "Goalkeeper Coach: All About Jeff Richey". Fort Wayne FC. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "Goalkeeper Coach: All About Jeff Richey". Fort Wayne FC. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "Ex-Valpo coach to lead local soccer club | Sports | Journal Gazette". www.journalgazette.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  12. ^ Cr, Kayla; all (February 14, 2020). "Fort Wayne FC names head coach, inaugural schedule". Fort Wayne's NBC. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  13. ^ "A Message from Kenneth Farrell, NPSL Chairman of the Board". National Premier Soccer League. March 26, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  14. ^ "Soccer club sees season canceled | Professional | Journal Gazette". www.journalgazette.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "Fort Wayne FC season canceled amid COVID-19 pandemic". WFFT News. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  16. ^ mlssoccer. "Former MLS and USMNT legend DaMarcus Beasley officially joins Fort Wayne FC ownership | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  17. ^ "Fort Wayne FC To Join USL League Two For 2021 Season". USL League Two. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Club Joins USL League Two for 2021 With Plans for USL League One in 2023". Fort Wayne FC. October 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "Fort Wayne FC To Join USL League One In 2023". USL League One. October 28, 2020.
  20. ^ "Fort Wayne FC draws huge crowd for club's first-ever home match". WANE 15. May 24, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  21. ^ "Fort Wayne FC picks up first league win over Toledo". WFFT News. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  22. ^ "Fort Wayne FC Crest Explained". Fort Wayne FC. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  23. ^ "Fort Wayne FC Uniforms Explained". Fort Wayne FC. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  24. ^ "Fort Wayne adds pro soccer team". WANE. September 9, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  25. ^ "About". Fort Wayne FC. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  26. ^ "Fort Wayne FC roster". www.fortwaynefc.com.

External links[]

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